Posted on February 18, 2016

Newswise — Chicago, IL (February 17, 2016) — As part of the largest gathering of dental hygiene professionals in the U.S., the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) will launch a charitable fun run/walk entitled In Motion: 5K Run-Walk-Fun on Thursday, June 9 at 8:00 p.m. in downtown Pittsburgh. Set to take place during the 2016 Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL) at the 93rd Annual Session (AS), the race is designed to raise funds for ADHA’s foundation, the Institute for Oral Health (IOH), which is committed to empowering, supporting, and developing education and research opportunities for dental hygiene professionals.

“The Institute for Oral Health is thrilled to host its inaugural 5K to further our mission of service, research and scholarship,” said Kelli Swanson Jaecks, MA, RDH, Chair of the ADHA Institute of Oral Health. “This event will be the highlight of the annual session, and whether you run, walk or shuffle, I invite everybody to participate in what will be the first of many memorable 5Ks to come.”

Proceeds from the fun run/walk will help fund scholarships for dental hygiene students, provide research opportunities for those expanding the field of dental hygiene, and support dental hygienists who donate their services to improve access to oral health care and education in their communities.

Runners and walkers of all skill levels are invited to participate in the event as individuals or in teams. All participants will be treated to an “After Glow Party” immediately following the race. In addition, ADHA is hosting an In Motion: 5K Run-Walk-Fun Song Contest on social media from Feb. 22 through March 7. The song with the most votes by the end of the contest will be crowned the anthem of this year’s race.

“The In Motion: 5K Run-Walk-Fun is an exciting way to engage students, exhibitors, friends, alumni, states, corporate sponsors and districts, all running or walking together for a great cause,” said ADHA CEO Ann Battrell. “With more funds, IOH can increase its presence nationwide and continue to do great work in the field of oral health.”